The woman at the centre of a viral kiss cam moment that shocked the corporate world has broken her months-long silence. Kristin Cabot, the former head of human resources at tech company Astronomer, has publicly addressed the incident where she was caught in an intimate embrace with her then-CEO, Andy Byron, during a Coldplay concert.
The Moment Everything Changed
The now-infamous event took place on July 16 at a Coldplay concert in Boston. Cabot, 53, and Andy Byron were sitting in the back of the stadium when the concert's kiss cam, operated by frontman Chris Martin, unexpectedly landed on them. A 16-second clip captured the pair in a close moment before they quickly separated upon realizing they were on the giant screen.
Chris Martin joked to the crowd, “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy.” Cabot described the shocking moment to The Times, stating, “Everything just flashed before my eyes.” She believed they were anonymous in the dark stadium among tens of thousands. “So suddenly I’m just seeing us on screen,” she recalled.
A Crush, a Concert, and Career Consequences
Cabot explained the context leading to the event. She had joined Astronomer in November, headhunted for her advertising experience, and described Byron as a supportive boss who championed women. She said support eventually turned into what she called “a big happy crush.” About a month before the concert, both had amicably separated from their respective partners.
She insists the embrace was the first physical affection between them and was fueled by alcohol. Her immediate reaction upon seeing themselves broadcast was panic for two reasons: “Holy s***, Andrew’s here”—referring to her estranged husband who was also at the concert—and then, “Oh God, Andy’s my effing boss.”
Aftermath and Online Backlash
The fallout was swift and severe. Cabot and Byron left the stadium immediately and agreed to inform Astronomer's board. By 4 a.m. the next day, her husband had sent her a screenshot of the viral clip. An internal investigation was launched.
Andy Byron resigned as CEO within days. The company later stated it found no evidence of an affair but concluded leadership standards had not been met. Cabot stepped down soon after, despite the board asking her to stay. She felt the disproportionate backlash was aimed at her: “I became a meme, I was the most maligned HR manager in HR history.” She also rejected accusations of being a “gold-digger.”
Cabot says the online pile-on made it impossible to simply apologize and keep her job. The personal toll was immense; she retreated to an Airbnb, felt unable to parent her children, and has since filed for divorce. Reflecting on the life-altering moment, she said, “I could have been struck by lightning, I could have won the lottery, or this could have happened... But I’m not some celebrity, I’m just a mom from New Hampshire.”
